Why this ride
253 km from Leuven to Leuven, about 4 h 01 of riding. The stops in between: Béguinage de Dendermonde, \Halletoren\ ou Belfort and back through Béguinage de Dendermonde. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Grand Béguinage of Leuven and \Halletoren\ ou Belfort
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 253 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 01
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Grand Béguinage of Leuven
Step through the gate of the Groot Begijnhof in Leuven and the city noise drops away. Cobbled lanes, small brick houses with white window frames and stepped gables, little bridges over the arms of the river Dijle, and a Gothic church in the middle: this is one of the largest béguinages in the Low Countries, part of the Flemish Béguinages group listed by UNESCO in 1998.
Read the complete Grand Béguinage of Leuven write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Grand Béguinage of Leuven is where the day begins. Next is Béguinage de Dendermonde.
2. Béguinage de Dendermonde
Push open the gate of the Dendermonde béguinage and the traffic noise of the ring road simply drops away. Inside is a quiet triangle of grass, whitewashed houses with green shutters and a modest church, where for centuries communities of beguines lived. These were laywomen who chose a shared religious life without taking permanent vows, earning their keep with lacework, nursing and teaching. The béguinage is one of thirteen in Flanders listed together by UNESCO, and it is among the most intimate of them.
Read the complete Béguinage de Dendermonde write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Béguinage de Dendermonde comes up 67 km in. Next is \Halletoren\ ou Belfort.
3. \Halletoren\ ou Belfort
Tielt is a working town in the heart of West Flanders, a place of farmers' markets, textile history and flat roads, and its belfry rises above the market square like a stubborn finger pointing at the clouds. The Halletoren, the hall tower, stands on top of the old cloth hall, the building where merchants once inspected and traded woollen cloth, the source of Flanders' wealth in the Middle Ages. The belfry is one of the group of Belgian and French belfries that UNESCO listed together, symbols of the civic freedom that the cities of Flanders won from their lords, where the town charters were kept and the bells rang to call citizens to arms or to work.
Read the complete \Halletoren\ ou Belfort write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
134 km in you reach \Halletoren\ ou Belfort. Next is back through Béguinage de Dendermonde.
4. back through Béguinage de Dendermonde
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Béguinage de Dendermonde write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Béguinage de Dendermonde, late in the day. Next is Grand Béguinage of Leuven.
5. Grand Béguinage of Leuven
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Grand Béguinage of Leuven write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Grand Béguinage of Leuven. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Grand Béguinage of Leuven to Béguinage de Dendermonde
Grand Béguinage of Leuven → Béguinage de Dendermonde is 61 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Béguinage de Dendermonde to \Halletoren\ ou Belfort
Béguinage de Dendermonde → \Halletoren\ ou Belfort is 73 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
\Halletoren\ ou Belfort to back through Béguinage de Dendermonde
\Halletoren\ ou Belfort → back through Béguinage de Dendermonde is 73 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
back through Béguinage de Dendermonde to Grand Béguinage of Leuven
back through Béguinage de Dendermonde → Grand Béguinage of Leuven is 61 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.